Tiffany G and the Frank DiBussolo group brought songs of the World War II era to life last night in a spirited performance in the Symphony Hall Rodale Room as part of the hall's Jazz Cabaret series.

The group debuted songs from its new CD, “Songs to Write Home About,” which puts the group's jazz style style on songs such as "Teach Me Tonight" and "Fever."

Tiffany -- Tiffany Ly Grochoswki – looked very much the part of a 1940s jazz cabaret singer, with a vintage-style sleeveless gown and dark hair swept up and to the side. She sounded the part, too, with a smooth and silky voice and careful phrasing.

Photos by Frank T. Smith

It was back to the era with songs that included “I Can’t Give you Anything But Love Baby,” Duke Ellington’s “Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me,” “Bye Bye Blackbird,” “Moonglow,” “Pennies From Heaven,” Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies” and the sentimental “My Buddy.”

Tiffany’s singing was often bookended by solos on guitar by DiBussolo and sax by Greg Edwards.

The night’s players were almost the same as at last month’s cabaret, which showcased Edwards “and friends.”

On drums was Bryan Tuk and bassist was Steven Liu.

Dibussolo added to the evening with guitar showcases, such as his transcription of the Brazilian song “Morning of Carnival,”which went from lovely chords to powerful strumming.

The night also raised money for El Sistema, the Symphony’s music program for disadvantaged Allentown students run by Liu. The hat was passed, so to speak, on a challenge issued by Tuk’s law firm Fitzpatrick, Lentz and Bubba to match whatever was raised. The tally was about $1,000.

The cabaret series returns Oct. 18 with cabaret singer Lynnie Godfrey, which will debut some songs from her upcomign CD. More info: www.allentownsymphony.org.

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JOHN J. MOSER has been around long enough to have seen the original Ramones in a small club in New Jersey, U2 from the fourth row of a theater and Bob Dylan's born-again tours. But he also has the number for All-American Rejects' Nick Wheeler on his cell phone, wrote the first story ever done on Jack's Mannequin and hung out in Wiz Khalifa's hotel room.

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS

JODI DUCKETT: As The Morning Call's assistant features editor responsible for entertainment, she spends a lot of time surveying the music landscape and sizing up the Valley's festivals and club scene. She's no expert, but enjoys it all — especially artists who resonated in her younger years, such as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Tracy Chapman, Santana and Joni Mitchell.

KATHY LAUER-WILLIAMS enjoys all types of music, from roots rock and folk to classical and opera. Music has been a constant backdrop to her life since she first sat on the steps listening to her mother’s Broadway LPs when she was 2. Since becoming a mother herself, she has become well-versed on the growing genre of kindie rock and, with her son in tow, can boast she has seen a majority of the current kid’s performers from Dan Zanes to They Might Be Giants.

STEPHANIE SIGAFOOS: A Jersey native raised in Northeast PA, she was reared in a house littered with 8-tracks, 45s and cassette tapes of The Beatles, Elvis, Meatloaf and Billy Joel. She also grew up on the sounds of Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw and can be found traversing the countryside in search of the sounds of a steel guitar. A fan of today's 'new country,' she digs mainstream/country-pop crossovers like Lady Antebellum and Sugarland and other artists that illustrate the genre's diversity.